Halloween arrived, bringing the chill of late autumn to Hogwarts. The Great Hall was adorned with floating jack-o'-lanterns, bats swooping overhead, and a magnificent feast laid out on the long tables. The students were chatting excitedly, eager for the evening's festivities.
At the Gryffindor table, Ethan leaned in close to Fred and Robert, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Are you both ready?" he whispered.
Fred grinned. "Always."
Robert chuckled. "Let's give them a Halloween they'll never forget."
The three of them had been planning this prank for weeks, using all their ingenuity to make it the most terrifying trick in Hogwarts history.
As Dumbledore raised his goblet for a toast, Ethan subtly flicked his wand under the table. The enchanted jack-o'-lanterns flickered wildly before their carved faces twisted into grotesque, grinning skulls. The warm orange glow shifted into an eerie green, casting ghostly shadows across the hall.
Then, a bloodcurdling howl echoed through the room.
Students gasped, some clutching their neighbors in fear. A thick mist slithered across the stone floor, obscuring their feet. Whispers, barely audible, filled the air, muttering ominous phrases in an ancient, unknown tongue.
Suddenly, spectral figures emerged from the mist—twisted, shadowy creatures with hollow eyes and clawed hands. They loomed over the students, their wails chilling the very air. The hall erupted into chaos.
Screams filled the space as students scrambled back. Some dove under the tables, while others clutched their wands, trembling. Even some of the older students looked pale.
At the staff table, McGonagall stood abruptly, her face tight with suspicion. Snape's eyes darted around the room, his wand at the ready.
But before the teachers could react, the phantoms suddenly vanished. The mist dissipated in an instant, and the jack-o'-lanterns returned to normal, their warm glow restored.
Silence hung in the air.
Then, from the Gryffindor table, Ethan, Fred, and Robert burst into laughter.
The realization hit the students like a wave.
"A prank!"
The Great Hall erupted into a mix of laughter, groans, and applause. The Weasley twins' reputation had long been established, but this was something else entirely.
Dumbledore, rather than looking angry, chuckled softly. "An impressive display of illusion work, though perhaps a bit excessive for our younger students," he remarked, his twinkling eyes resting on Ethan and the twins.
McGonagall pursed her lips, her gaze sharp. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for the sheer audacity. And detention for you three."
Fred and Robert grinned at each other. "Worth it," they said in unison.
Before anyone could settle, the doors to the Great Hall suddenly burst open.
Professor Quirrell staggered inside, his turban askew, his face pale as a sheet.
"T-TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON!" he stammered. Then, as if the effort had been too much, he fainted onto the floor with a dramatic thud.
Silence.
No one moved.
Then, laughter broke out again.
"Nice try, Professor!" someone called from the Hufflepuff table.
"Not bad, but you'll have to do better than that!" another Gryffindor added.
Even some of the Ravenclaws chuckled. After the prank Ethan and the twins had just pulled, no one was taking Quirrell seriously.
Dumbledore frowned, standing from his chair. "Silence!" His voice, usually warm, was suddenly sharp, cutting through the laughter like a blade. The hall fell silent.
Quirrell groaned from the floor, stirring slightly. "I-It's real… A troll… in the dungeon…"
This time, the students exchanged nervous glances. What if this wasn't a joke?
Dumbledore's eyes hardened. "Prefects, lead your houses to their dormitories immediately."
The festive atmosphere was gone. Fear crept into the room as the students hurried to obey.
Ethan shot Fred and Robert a glance. "Well… that escalated quickly."
The twins nodded, their earlier amusement replaced with growing concern.
Something told Ethan that Halloween was about to get a lot more interesting.
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